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perjury
[U] Uncountable
This term carries a heavy legal weight and a strong moral stigma. It is not merely lying, but a specific betrayal of a formal oath administered by the state, making it a crime against the justice system itself. In common usage, it is strictly confined to legal proceedings or sworn affidavits. Using it to describe a lie told to a friend or a spouse would be an intentional exaggeration or a legal metaphor, as the word requires a formal legal context to be technically accurate.
Used as a legal concept or a crime, such as stating that perjury is a felony.